Bucket Assembly

ABSTRACT

A bucket assembly includes a bucket, a lid, and a beverage holding insert that extends outwardly from the lid and into the bucket. The bucket can include ice to keep a beverage located in the beverage holding insert cold. The beverage holding insert provides a watertight seal such that liquids, ice, or contaminants cannot pass into the bucket and contaminate ice located therein.

BACKGROUND

Bars, restaurants, and other businesses that sell food and drinks oftenplace beverages in a bucket filled with ice in order to keep thebeverages cold. The buckets are then sold to customers who consume thebeverages.

As the ice melts, the beverages are removed from the bucket and ofteneven placed back into the bucket to keep the beverages cold. This actionof removing the beverages from the bucket causes ice and water containedin the bucket to spill. The ice inside the bucket also tends to meltrapidly since the ice is exposed to warm ambient air. Furthermore,liquid from the beverages or other foreign contaminates often mix withthe water and ice in the bucket and prevent the ice from being used withanother customer.

Businesses spend large sums of money on ice in order to keep thebeverages in the buckets cold. Much of this ice, however, is wastedsince it is spilled from the bucket, melted from warm ambient air, andcontaminated.

SUMMARY

One example embodiment is a bucket assembly that includes a bucket, alid with at least one hole, and a beverage holding insert that extendsoutwardly from the lid and into the bucket. The bucket can include iceto keep a beverage located in the beverage holding insert cold. Thebeverage holding insert includes a bladder or body that provides awatertight seal such that liquids, ice, or contaminants cannot pass intothe bucket and contaminate ice located therein.

Other example embodiments and variations of these embodiments are shownand taught in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly in accordance with anexample embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a bucket assembly in accordance with anexample embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bucket assembly of FIG. 2 in accordancewith an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a bucket assembly in accordancewith an example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments include a bucket assembly that holds beverages andprovides a housing that maintains the beverages cold.

One example embodiment includes two interlocking buckets, a lid thatremovably connects to the buckets, and one or more beverage holdinginserts that lock and engage the lid. These beverage holding insertshold one or more beverages and extend into the buckets that are filledwith ice and/or cold water.

The bucket assembly keeps water and ice sealed inside of the bucket andprevents contaminants from entering the bucket and contaminating thewater and ice sealed therein. Furthermore, these buckets include anair-gap or air-lock space that reduces or eliminates condensation fromforming on an exterior surface of the outer bucket and also insulatesthe ice located inside of the bucket. As such, the bucket assemblyreduces and slows the melting process of the ice located inside of thebucket.

When beverages are positioned inside the beverage holding inserts, thebeverages remain submerged in the ice and/or water located in the bucketand thus remain cold. Furthermore, components of the bucket assembly(such as the two buckets, the lid, and the beverage holding inserts) areseparable and removable from each other. As such, these components canbe readily cleaned and/or replaced if one of them becomes damaged.

Furthermore, the beverage holding inserts include bladders that arewatertight and/or waterproof. As such, the bladders prohibit or stopdrainage from the beverages or any contaminants (such as trash orforeign particles) from entering the bucket and contaminating the icelocated therein.

The bucket assembly saves bars, restaurants, and other businesses thatsell food and drinks money since ice used to cool beverages lastslonger, remains confined inside the bucket (e.g., does not spill fromthe bucket), and remains free from contaminates so ice remaining in thebucket can be safely reused.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly 100 in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention. The bucket assembly 100 includesa bucket 110 and a lid 120 that removably connects to the bucket 110.The lid 120 includes a plurality of circular holes 130A-130F that extendthrough a body of the lid. A plurality of beverage holding inserts140A-140F connect to the lid at the holes and extend downwardly into avolume of the bucket.

For illustration, FIG. 1 shows the lid 120 with six holes and sixbeverage holding inserts connected to the lid. Example embodiments,however, include different numbers of holes and beverage holdinginserts, such as one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a bucket assembly 200 that includes an outer bucket210, an inner bucket 220, a lid 230, and a plurality of beverage holdinginserts 240.

The outer bucket 210 has a cylindrical shape or truncated cone shapewith an open top 250 and a flat bottom 252. A top of the outer bucketincludes a rim 254 with one or more locking mechanisms 256. A body 258of the outer bucket includes an outer surface 260 and an inner surface262. This body defines a volume or space 264 into which the inner bucket220 is positioned.

The inner bucket 220 has a cylindrical shape or truncated cone shapewith an open top 270 and a flat bottom 272. A top of the inner bucketincludes a rim 274 with one or more locking mechanisms 276. A body 278of the inner bucket includes an outer surface 280 and an inner surface282. This body defines a volume or space 284 into which the plurality ofbeverage holding inserts 240 is positioned. This volume or space 284also holds water, ice, or other liquids and material to keep beveragescold when such beverages are located in the plurality of beverageholding inserts 240.

The outer bucket 210 and the inner bucket 220 have similar shapes withthe inner bucket 220 having a smaller size than the outer bucket 210. Assuch, the body 278 of the inner bucket 220 can fit into or inside of thevolume or space 264 of the outer bucket 210.

When the inner bucket 220 fits within the volume or space 264 of theouter bucket 210, the locking mechanism 276 of the inner bucket 220engages the locking mechanism 256 of the outer bucket 210. These lockingmechanisms engage each other such that the inner bucket 220 locks to orconnects with the outer bucket 210. By way of example, these lockingmechanisms include, but are not limited to snap-fit connections,twist-lock connections, threaded connections, tongue and grooveconnections, and other type of mechanical connections.

The lid 230 includes a plurality of holes or apertures 290A-290F thatextend through a body of the lid. By way of example, these apertures290A-290F have a circular shape, but other shapes (such as polygonalshapes) can be utilized. Further, for illustration, six apertures areshown, but the lid can have a different number of apertures (such ashaving a single aperture, two apertures, three apertures, fourapertures, etc.).

The lid 230 has a circular or disk shape, and the apertures 290A-290Fare evenly spaced or evenly distributed across the body of the lid. Eachaperture 290A-290F has a perimeter with a locking mechanism 294A-294F.Further, the lid 230 has a perimeter or outer edge 296 with a lockingmechanism 298.

By way of illustration, the plurality of beverage holding inserts 240include six beverage holding inserts 310A-310F, but a different numberof inserts can also be used (such as a single beverage holding insert,two beverage holding inserts, three beverage holdings inserts, etc.).

In an example embodiment, a number of beverage holding inserts equals anumber of apertures in the lid. For illustration, FIGS. 2 and 3 show sixbeverage holding inserts 310A-310F and six apertures 290A-290F. Eachbeverage holding insert engages with one of the apertures.

The beverage holding inserts 310A-310F have an elongated rectangularshape that includes a rigid ring-shaped rim 312A-312F and a body orbladder 314A-314F. Each ring-shaped rim 312A-312F further has a lockingmechanism 320A-320F.

The bladders 314A-314F are formed of plastic or polymer and can have astrong rigid body that does not bend or flex. Alternatively, thebladders can have a flexible, foldable body that bends. For example, aflexible body can change shapes and wrap around or conform to a shape ofa beverage inserted into the bladder (such as wrapping around a bottleor can that is inserted into or housed in the bladder).

Furthermore, the bladders 314A-314F are watertight and/or waterproofsuch that water or another liquid (such as a liquid used to coolbeverages) cannot escape through or pass into or out of the bladder. Forexample, when the bladder is filled with water, this water cannot seepthrough or escape through the body of the bladder. Further, water oranother liquid cannot seep or pass into the bladder from an outsidesource. For instance, when the bladder is positioned in or immersed inwater located in the bucket, this water cannot pass through the body ofthe bladder.

The bladders 314A-314F and/or beverage holding inserts 310A-310F have anelongated cylindrical or rectangular shape and can be sized and shapedto receive and house a bottle and/or a can (such as a bottle of beer orsoda or a can of beer or soda). By way of example, a bladder and/orbeverage holding insert has a width of about two and one-half inches toabout three and one-half inches and a length of about four and one-halfinches to about seven and one-half inches. Furthermore, the bladderand/or beverage holding insert can have different shapes, such as apolygonal shape, a circular shape, an elongated shape with roundedcorners, etc. Further yet, each bladder and/or beverage holding insertcan house one or more bottles or cans. For example, a single bladder canhouse one can and/or one bottle, two cans and/or two bottles, three cansand/or three bottles, etc. A size and shape of the bladder and/orbeverage holding insert can depend on what objects it is intended tohouse and how many of these objects.

The locking mechanisms 320A-320F of the beverage holding inserts310A-310F engage the locking mechanisms 294A-294F of the lid 230 suchthat the beverage holding inserts are removable from the lid. Thesebeverage holding inserts can be removed from the lid and washed,cleaned, or replaced if broken or damaged. By way of example, theselocking mechanisms include, but are not limited to, snap-fitconnections, twist-lock connections, threaded connections, tongue andgroove connections, and other type of mechanical connections.

The locking mechanism 298 of the lid 230 engages the locking mechanism276 of the inner bucket 220 and/or the locking mechanism 256 of theouter bucket 210 in order to engage and connect the lid to the innerand/or outer buckets. These locking mechanisms provide a watertight andremovable connection between the lid and the inner and/or outer buckets.By way of example, these locking mechanisms include, but are not limitedto, snap-fit connections, twist-lock connections, threaded connections,tongue and groove connections, and other type of mechanical connections.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a bucket assembly 400 inaccordance with an example embodiment of the invention. The bucketassembly 400 includes an outer bucket 410, an inner bucket 420, a lid430, and at least one beverage holding insert 440.

The inner bucket 420 engages with the outer bucket 410 such that thesetwo buckets are removable from each other. Alternatively, these twobuckets can be integrally formed. For example, the two buckets are notseparable but formed as a single unitary bucket. A semicircular handle442 extends from opposite sides of the bucket to provide easy transportor carrying of the bucket assembly.

The inner bucket 420 is filled with water, ice, and/or a fluid ormaterial to keep beverages cold. By way of example, FIG. 4 shows theinner bucket filled with water 450 and ice 452 that are placed insidethe inner bucket in order to keep a beverage 456 cold. This beverage ispositioned inside of the beverage holding insert 440. Water 460 and ice462 are also placed inside of the beverage holding insert 440 to keepthe beverage 456 cold.

The beverage holding insert 440 is watertight such that the water 460,ice 462, and other contaminants cannot escape through walls of thebeverage holding insert and into the inner bucket. Further, the water450 and ice 452 located in the inner bucket cannot escape into or passinto the beverage holding insert 440. As such, liquid and/or materiallocated in the beverage holding insert cannot pass into the inner bucketand contaminate liquid, ice, and/or material located in the innerbucket.

FIG. 4 also shows that the inner bucket 420 includes a fill line 470.This fill line 470 extends around an interior surface of the innerbucket 420 and provides a visual indication for how much ice and/orwater to place inside of the bucket.

As shown in FIG. 4, an air gap or air-lock space 480 extends between anouter surface 482 of the inner bucket 420 and an inner surface 484 ofthe outer bucket 410. This air-lock space 480 reduces condensation on anouter surface 486 of the outer bucket 410 when the inner bucket 420includes ice or another cooling liquid or material. For instance, whenthe bucket is filled with ice and/or water, the air-lock space providesinsulation or an air barrier that assists in reducing the transfer orheat or cold between the inner and outer buckets.

Consider an example in which a restaurant fills the bucket with ice andplaces the lid over the bucket to prevent the ice from spilling out ofthe bucket. Beverages are then placed in the beverage holding insertsalong with additional ice. The ice in the bucket assists in keeping thebeverages cold. A customer accidentally spills some of the beverage ontothe lid. This spilled beverage enters the beverage holding inserts butdoes not enter the bucket. As such, the ice located inside of the bucketremains free from contaminants. The customer finishes the beverages andleaves the restaurant. Thereafter, staff at the restaurant remove thelid of the bucket and obtain the ice in the bucket. This ice can bereused in another bucket or for another purpose since it was sealed inthe bucket and was not exposed to external contaminants.

Consider another example in which customers in a bar order four bottlesof beer. The bar has lids with different number of holes (such as lidswith three holes, lids with four holes, lids with five holes, and lidswith six holes). Since the customer ordered four bottles of beer, thebar selects a lid with four holes. A bucket is filled with ice, and thelid is screwed or snapped onto the bucket. Four beverage holding insertsconnect to the holes in the lid and extend downwardly into the ice inthe bucket. One bottle of beer is placed in each beverage holdinginsert, and additionally ice is added into the beverage holding insertscontaining the beers. Thermal conduction through the bladders of thebeverage holding inserts enables the ice in the bucket to keep thebeverages cold while they are located in the beverage holding inserts.

Consider another example in which a customer orders several cans of coldsoda. An inner bucket is snapped into an outer bucket, and then theinner bucket is filled with ice. Thereafter, a lid with beverage holdinginserts is snapped onto the inner bucket and/or outer bucket to form abucket assembly. While drinking the cans of soda, the customeraccidentally knocks the bucket assembly from a table onto the floor. Thebucket assembly does not break or damage since it is formed of plasticor polymers. Furthermore, ice and water located inside the inner bucketdoes not spill since the lid forms a watertight seal with the innerbucket and/or outer bucket.

The bucket assembly can be made from one or more of plastics, polymers,metals, steel, composite materials, and wood.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that a discussion of variousexample methods should not be construed as steps that must proceed in aparticular order. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate,upon reading this disclosure, numerous modifications and variations toexample embodiments. The appended claims cover such modifications andvariations.

1. A bucket assembly, comprising: an outer bucket; an inner bucket thatfits inside of and removably engages with the outer bucket; a lid thatincludes a plurality of holes and that engages the inner bucket to forma watertight seal that prevents liquid from exiting the inner bucket;and a plurality of beverage holding inserts that each include a rigidring-shaped rim and an elongated cylindrically-shaped bladder thatconnects to the ring-shaped rim, wherein the ring-shaped rim of each ofthe plurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages the lid atone of the plurality of holes such that the lid connects and holds thebeverage holding inserts inside the inner bucket and such that thebladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the inner bucket,wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is watertight sowater cannot enter into and escape through the bladder when the bladderis immersed in liquid contained in the inner bucket.
 2. The bucketassembly of claim 1, wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insertis pliable and formed of a polymer.
 3. The bucket assembly of claim 1,wherein the ring-shaped rim of each beverage holding insert removablyengages with the lid with one of a snap-fit connection and a threadedconnection.
 4. The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bladder ofeach beverage holding insert is foldable.
 5. The bucket assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is sizedand shaped to receive and hold one of a single beer bottle and a singlebeer can.
 6. The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofholes of the lid includes six equally spaced holes, and each of the sixequally spaced holes engages with one of the plurality of beverageholding inserts.
 7. The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the innerbucket engages the outer bucket to provide an air-lock spacetherebetween that reduces condensation on an outer surface of the outerbucket when the inner bucket is filled with water and ice.
 8. The bucketassembly of claim 1, wherein the outer bucket includes a rim with alocking mechanism, the inner bucket includes a rim with a lockingmechanism, and the locking mechanism of the outer bucket removablyengages the locking mechanism of the inner bucket with one of a snap-fitconnection and a threaded connection.
 9. The bucket assembly of claim 1,wherein the lid engages the outer and inner buckets to form a watertightso water cannot from the inner bucket when the outer bucket, the lid,and the inner bucket are engaged together.
 10. A bucket assembly,comprising: an outer bucket; an inner bucket that fits inside of andengages with the outer bucket; a lid that includes a plurality ofcircular holes sized to receive an end of a beer bottle, that engageswith and is removable from the outer bucket and the inner bucket, andthat forms a watertight seal that prevents liquid from exiting the innerbucket; and a plurality of beverage holding inserts that each include arigid rim and an elongated flexible and collapsible bladder thatconnects to the rigid rim, wherein the rigid rim of each of theplurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages the lid at oneof the plurality of circular holes such that the lid connects and holdsthe beverage holding inserts inside the inner bucket and such that thebladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the inner bucketand into the outer bucket, wherein the plurality of beverage holdinginserts form a watertight seal such that liquid contained in thebeverage holdings inserts cannot pass into either the outer bucket andthe inner bucket and liquid contained in the inner bucket cannot passinto the beverage holding inserts when the plurality of beverage holdinginserts are immersed in liquid contained in the inner bucket.
 11. Thebucket assembly of claim 10, wherein the inner bucket removably engageswith the outer bucket with one of a snap-fit connection and a threadedconnection.
 12. The bucket assembly of claim 10, wherein each of theplurality of circular holes has a diameter from about two and one-halfinches to about three and one-half inches.
 13. The bucket assembly ofclaim 10, wherein the inner bucket engages the outer bucket to providean air-lock space that exists between an outside surface of the innerbucket and an inside surface of the outer buck such that the air-lockspace reduces condensation on an outer surface of the outer bucket whenthe inner bucket is filled with water and ice.
 14. The bucket assemblyof claim 10, wherein the lid has a circular shape that engages acircular shaped rim of the outer bucket and a circular shape rim of theinner bucket.
 15. The bucket assembly of claim 10, wherein each of theplurality of beverage holding inserts has an elongated cylindrical shapewith a size to hold a beer bottle while an end of the beer bottle isemerged in water and ice trapped inside the inner bucket.
 16. The bucketassembly of claim 10, wherein the inner bucket includes a circular fillline that extends around an interior surface of the inner bucket andindicates a limit for filling the inner bucket with ice and water.
 17. Abucket assembly, comprising: a bucket having a vertical cylindricalshape or truncated cone shape and having an open top and a flat bottom;a circular lid that includes a plurality of circular holes and thatengages the bucket to form a watertight seal that prevents liquidincluded in the bucket from exiting the bucket; and a plurality ofbeverage holding inserts with a rigid rim and an elongatedcylindrically-shaped bladder that extends from the rigid rim and that issized to receive and hold a single beer bottle, wherein the rigid rim ofeach of the plurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages thelid at one of the plurality of circular holes such that the lid connectsand holds the beverage holding inserts inside the bucket and such thatthe bladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the bucket,wherein each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts forms awatertight seal such that with the liquid in the bucket cannot escapeinto the plurality of beverage holding inserts and liquid in thebeverage cannot escape through the beverage holding inserts and into thebucket.
 18. The bucket assembly of claim 17, wherein the bucket includesan outer surface, an inner surface, and an air-lock space that existsbetween exterior and interior surfaces and reduces condensation on theouter surface when the bucket is filled with water and ice.
 19. Thebucket assembly of claim 17, wherein the lid includes six beverageholding inserts that extend into a volume of the bucket defined betweenthe open top and the flat bottom.
 20. The bucket assembly of claim 17,wherein each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts are formed ofpolymer and are flexible and foldable.